diff --git a/source/gui/__init__.py b/source/gui/__init__.py
index 43b1c80b5d4..ea29f09dc10 100644
--- a/source/gui/__init__.py
+++ b/source/gui/__init__.py
@@ -53,7 +53,12 @@ def __init__(self):
 		style = wx.DEFAULT_FRAME_STYLE ^ wx.MAXIMIZE_BOX ^ wx.MINIMIZE_BOX | wx.FRAME_NO_TASKBAR
 		super(MainFrame, self).__init__(None, wx.ID_ANY, versionInfo.name, size=(1,1), style=style)
 		self.Bind(wx.EVT_CLOSE, self.onExitCommand)
+
 		self.sysTrayIcon = SysTrayIcon(self)
+		# wx destroys child Windows automatically but `wx.adv.TaskBarIcon` is not a window
+		# so it must be set to be destroyed before destroying our main frame window (#12243)
+		self.Bind(wx.EVT_WINDOW_DESTROY, self._onDestroy, source=self)
+
 		#: The focus before the last popup or C{None} if unknown.
 		#: This is only valid before L{prePopup} is called,
 		#: so it should be used as early as possible in any popup that needs it.
@@ -75,6 +80,13 @@ def __init__(self):
 				self.Show()
 				self.Hide()
 
+	def _onDestroy(self, evt: wx.EVT_WINDOW_DESTROY):
+		evt.Skip(skip=False)  # blocks other handlers as wxCommandEvents must only be processed by one handler
+		# wx destroys child Windows automatically but `wx.adv.TaskBarIcon` is not a window
+		# so it must be set to be destroyed when destroying our main frame window (#12243)
+		log.debug(f"destroying systray icon")
+		wx.CallAfter(self.sysTrayIcon.Destroy)  # queue the destruction event safely
+
 	def prePopup(self):
 		"""Prepare for a popup.
 		This should be called before any dialog or menu which should pop up for the user.
@@ -358,22 +370,24 @@ def onConfigProfilesCommand(self, evt):
 
 def safeAppExit():
 	"""
-	Ensures the app is exited by all the top windows being destroyed
+	Ensures the app is exited by all the top windows being destroyed.
+	wx objects that don't inherit from wx.Window (eg sysTrayIcon, Menu) need to be manually destroyed.
 	"""
 
 	for window in wx.GetTopLevelWindows():
 		if isinstance(window, wx.Dialog) and window.IsModal():
-			log.info(f"ending modal {window} during exit process")
+			log.debug(f"ending modal {window} during exit process")
 			wx.CallAfter(window.EndModal, wx.ID_CLOSE_ALL)
 		if isinstance(window, MainFrame):
-			log.info(f"destroying main frame during exit process")
+			log.debug(f"destroying main frame during exit process")
 			# the MainFrame has EVT_CLOSE bound to the ExitDialog
 			# which calls this function on exit, so destroy this window
 			wx.CallAfter(window.Destroy)
 		else:
-			log.info(f"closing window {window} during exit process")
+			log.debug(f"closing window {window} during exit process")
 			wx.CallAfter(window.Close)
 
+
 class SysTrayIcon(wx.adv.TaskBarIcon):
 
 	def __init__(self, frame):
@@ -381,7 +395,10 @@ def __init__(self, frame):
 		icon=wx.Icon(ICON_PATH,wx.BITMAP_TYPE_ICO)
 		self.SetIcon(icon, versionInfo.name)
 
-		self.menu=wx.Menu()
+		# wx.Windows destroy child Windows automatically but wx.Menu and TaskBarIcon don't inherit from
+		# wx.Window. The menu must be manually destroyed when destroying our system tray icon (#12243)
+		self.menu = wx.Menu()
+
 		menu_preferences=self.preferencesMenu=wx.Menu()
 		item = menu_preferences.Append(wx.ID_ANY,
 			# Translators: The label for the menu item to open NVDA Settings dialog.
@@ -542,6 +559,13 @@ def __init__(self, frame):
 		self.Bind(wx.adv.EVT_TASKBAR_LEFT_DOWN, self.onActivate)
 		self.Bind(wx.adv.EVT_TASKBAR_RIGHT_DOWN, self.onActivate)
 
+	def Destroy(self):
+		# wx.Windows destroy child Windows automatically but wx.Menu and TaskBarIcon don't inherit from
+		# wx.Window. The menu must be manually destroyed when destroying our system tray icon (#12243)
+		log.debug(f"destroying systray menu during exit process")
+		wx.CallAfter(self.menu.Destroy)
+		return super().Destroy()
+
 	def onActivate(self, evt):
 		mainFrame.prePopup()
 		import appModules.nvda